Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Impact the Prognosis in Endometrial Cancer Survivors? A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the prognosis in endometrial cancer (EC) survivors. METHODS: The research was conducted using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, ClinicalTrial.gov, and Cochrane Library. We performed a review of studies published from January 1986 to January 2019. We selected studies that included EC patients submitted to surgery with curative intent and postoperative use of HRT. RESULT: Seven of 1,332 abstracts considered were eligible: 4 retrospective series, 1 prospective study, 1 randomized controlled trial, and 1 population study. Globally in the observed studies there was not a significant increase in the recurrence rate, measured by the relative risk, in the EC survivors using HRT compared with the controls in tumour stages I and II. The bias was that HRT was prescribed only to low-risk patients, who were young and had a low stage of disease. CONCLUSION: This systematic review shows that HRT use had no negative effect on prognosis in EC survivors in tumour stages I and II.

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in pregnancy and oligohydramnios: a review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to evaluate the relationship between the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during last trimesters of the pregnancy and the reduction of amniotic fluid. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Medline, and Scopus). Selection criteria included studies reporting the relationship between oligohydramnios and use of NSAID during pregnancy. We analyzed the median age of women, weeks of pregnancy at the beginning of the drug administration, kind of medication, period of exposure and dosage, deepest vertical pocket (DVP), and amniotic fluid index (AFI). RESULTS: Of the 68 records identified, we analyzed 29 studies investigating the administration of NSAIDs, including 11 studies examined the administration of the Indomethacin, four articles have focused on the use of Nimesulide, and only two manuscripts considered the use of Diclofenac. We found a strict correlation between the development of oligohydramnios and the use of NSAIDs. The oligohydramnios is reversible, and the normal amount of amniotic fluid is restored after the interruption of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NSAIDs should be considered when maternal benefits outweigh the potential fetal risk, at the lowest effective dose for shortest duration. Beyond 48 h of NSAIDs treatment, we consider ultrasound monitoring of amniotic fluid, and we suggest stopping therapy if a decline AFI is present.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Gynecologic Oncology Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in gynecologic oncology patients under chemotherapy. METHODS: A prospective cohort study including gynecologic oncology women who were under chemotherapy or had completed it within 6 months at the time of the study. All patients received a two-dose schedule of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Results were compared with a control group of healthy women vaccinated in the same period. RESULTS: Overall, 44 oncologic patients with a mean age of 61.3 ± 10.7 years were enrolled: 28 (63.6%) had ovarian cancer, 9 (20.4%) endometrial, and 7 (16%) cervical. The IgG antibody titer after 1 month from vaccination was low in 9 (20.5%) patients, moderate in 21 (47.7%), and high in 14 (31.8%). The 3-month titer was null in 2 (4.5%) patients, low in 26 (59.1%), moderate in 13 (29.5%), and high in 3 (6.8%). Patients ≥ 50 years reported lower 1-month (p = 0.018) and 3-month (p = 0.004) titers compared with <50 years. Patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2 had a higher 1-month titer compared with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (p = 0.016). Compared with healthy women (n = 44), oncologic patients showed a lower 3-month titer (p < 0.001). None of the patients experienced serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 vaccine was safe and immunogenic in gynecologic oncology patients under chemotherapy. Serological monitoring and further vaccine shots should be considered to boost protection.

Relationship between cervical excisional treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and obstetrical outcome.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our systematic review was the assessment of effects of excisional treatments for the management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) on preterm delivery (PD), lower birth weight (LBW), preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) and obstetrical outcomes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A structured search was carried out in PubMed-Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases through November 30, 2019. The search included a combination of the following terms: "loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)," "large loop excision of transformation zone (LLETZ)," "cold-knife conization (CKC)," "laser cervical conization (CLC)," "preterm delivery" and "neonatal outcome." EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Thirty-two of 561 publications considered were included: 28 retrospective series, 2 prospective studies and 2 multicenter trials. Globally in several studies there was a significant increase in PD, measured by the relative risk, in the women underwent a surgical procedure for the CIN. In their majority, the studies were retrospective and therefore a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review shows that the surgical treatment of the CIN was associated with an increased risk of PD, LBW and pPROM before 37 pregnancy weeks compared to untreated women, especially in a CKC and LLETZ procedure. Moreover, the increase of the of PD was associated with cone size, cervical length, repeated treatment and a short conization-to-pregnancy interval.

Anthracycline-Free Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Ensures Higher Rates of Pathologic Complete Response in Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is a standard of care for locally advanced and initially inoperable breast cancer. NCT can test chemotherapy efficacy and can be followed by breast-conserving surgery. Considering taxanes as one of the most effective agents, we analyzed the efficacy of a neoadjuvant schedule without anthracyclines and based only on taxanes and carboplatin, trying to avoid cardiotoxicity, which is the most serious side effect correlated with anthracyclines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 61 patients with breast cancer, belonging to 4 subgroups, according to molecular phenotypes: 24 triple-negative/basal-like, 13 HER2-like, 20 luminal B, and 4 luminal A. All patients underwent weekly chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC2, paclitaxel 80 mg/m2, with trastuzumab (in case of HER2 positivity) 2 mg/kg, except for luminal A patients, who underwent only hormonal therapy. Among 61 patients, 26 (43%) received modified radical mastectomy and 35 (57%) received breast-conserving surgery. RESULTS: The patients obtaining pathologic complete response (pCR) were 20 (83%) of 24 triple-negative/basal-like, 10 (76%) of 13 HER2-like, 6 (30%) of 20 luminal B, and 3 (75%) of 4 luminal A. All the patients were evaluated for toxicity: no grade 4 was detected, 5 patients experienced grade 3 neuropathy, then reverted to G2 after chemotherapy discontinuation. At a minimum follow-up of 5 years, median overall survival was 48 months. CONCLUSION: Taxane/carboplatin-based/anthracycline-free NCT is the best treatment for inoperable breast cancer in terms of efficacy and toxicity, because this approach avoids cardiotoxicity and obtains an optimal rate (64%) of pCR, with an important impact on survival.

Long-Lasting Stent Placement in an Elderly Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patient.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, most often co-occurring with malignant bowel obstruction. Affected patients are generally in poor physical condition, and it is important to manage the bowel obstruction to improve quality of life. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who underwent a left hemicolectomy for an ovarian carcinoma with bowel obstruction. 3 years after hemicolectomy, the patient presented with an extrinsic anastomotic substenosis. A self-expanding metal stent was placed which remained in place for 7 years, rendering other invasive surgical treatments unnecessary. CONCLUSION: The placement of a long-lasting stent is an important option in patients with bowel obstruction subsequent to recurrent ovarian cancer, since this provides a viable alternative to surgery and increases patients' quality of life.